The Telegraph

Telegraph Review/ Shoba Narayan/ Travel writer 

With the 300-acre Cubbon Park on one side, and the high-end boutiques, galleries, and restaurants of UB City on the other, the JW Marriott is the best-located hotel in Bangalore. Spacious rooms, Italian and Indian restaurants, and an excellent spa only add to its allure.

Location

9/10

With its running trails, tennis courts, birding and photography groups that convene on weekends, Cubbon Park is an oasis amid the bustle of Bangalore, and right across the street from JW Marriott. As well as great access for the town centre, there are the pubs, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries that are nearby on Lavelle Road – a two-minute walk from the hotel.

Style & character

8 / 10

With soaring triple-height ceilings and minimalist furnishings, the hotel exudes a clean, functional vibe. Once you get inside, you could well be anywhere in the world, devoid as the décor is of overtly Indian touches. The marble- and granite-clad public spaces brim with light and are spacious for a hotel in the centre of the city. The hotel has plenty of business guests and wedding parties, but exudes warmth.

Service & facilities

8 / 10

Members of staff, dressed in black business suits, are courteous. People walk briskly here, or feel that they ought to. The third floor has a Warren Tricome salon, a heated swimming pool that is open to the sky and offers great views of the glittering towers of Bangalore’s skyline at night, fitness rooms, and a JW spa with exceptionally well trained therapists from Northeast India and Bhutan. The hotel also arranges activities such as yoga in the park for its guests.

  • Wi-Fi

  • Fitness centre

  • Laundry

  • Parking

  • Bar

  • Pool

  • Restaurant

  • Room service

  • Sauna

  • Spa

  • Steam room/hammam

Shoba's Notes

The Bangalore Baking Club is a favourite among young Mums in the city who meet there with their kids for cookies and coffee.

Book clubs and wine clubs meet at this hotel.

Rooms

7 / 10

Even the basic rooms are a nice size, with a colourful textile headboard, docking station, electronic safe, and all requisite amenities. The wood floors give warmth and cosiness to what could otherwise be an impersonal space. Most rooms have great views of leafy Cubbon Park. There are no balconies. Bathroom have separate tubs and showers. Families can opt for connecting rooms.

Food & drink

8/ 10

There are five dining outlets.

The Bangalore Baking Company (BBC) serves as an in-house market and café, selling reasonably priced bottles of wine and champagne. The red velvet and cheesecakes are popular among locals. BBC serves an afternoon tea with local specialties such as coconut buns, vegetable puffs, and banana chips.

JW Kitchen serves food all day; buffet lunch and dinner. Weekends are packed with families. There is live music, balloon-sculpture makers, and face painters on hand. They also serve a sprawling buffet breakfast thatincludes Indian specialties: dosa-crepes, flatbreads, chutneys; and also the usual egg-station, breads, Asian porridge (congee) and cheeses.

Alba, open only for dinner, is headed by an Italian chef from Milan. Its pillowy ravioli and dense risotto offer great respite from the spicy Indian food elsewhere. Spice Terrace serves Northwest frontier food in a lovely outdoor, poolside setting. Go here for well marinated grilled meats.

Value for money

7/ 10

Double rooms from INR 10,500 (£125) in low season; and from INR 16,500 (£196) in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Access for guests with disabilities?

Adapted rooms include features such as Braille signs, special lighting and ramps.

Family-Friendly?

Although local families do visit the hotel for its hugely popular Sunday brunch, the hotel is primarily aimed at adults. There are interconnecting rooms and children’s menus, but no kids club’. Babysitters are available on request at an extra charge, as are cots and extra beds. The staff is not necessarily geared to cater to children.

Address details

24/1 Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru, 560001, India.

00 91 80 6718 9999

 
marriott.com

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2017

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